PMA thanks Fran Unsworth as she steps down from the BBC

25th January
The Head of BBC News and Current Affairs steps down from her position at the end of this week, and will be replaced by Deborah Turness. She has been on the PMA Board since 2014. 
Fran Unsworth
Fran Unsworth has been on the PMA Board since 2014. Credit: BBC Media Centre

This week marks the departure from the BBC, of PMA Board member Fran Unsworth. Despite her busy BBC schedule, Fran has always found time to participate in PMA Board meetings in person and to provide advice and support to the PMA team when needed.

Fran became the first female Director of the BBC World Service Group in December 2014 and at that point she also became a member of the PMA Board. Fran remained on the board when in 2018 she was appointed as Head of BBC News and Current Affairs, a role that also saw her become a member of the BBC Board which sets the overall strategy for the organisation.

Read more: After the pandemic – news in the 2020s

A BBC ‘lifer’, Fran has worked for the BBC for more than 40 years, beginning her career in BBC Local Radio and spending time working as Producer and Editor on the BBC’s One O’clock and Six O’clock news programmes. She was Head of the BBC’s Political programmes and worked as a Radio Producer in Washington during the Gulf War.

Fran has undoubtedly been in the front row of events at the BBC for much of her career. It means she has been able to bring to the PMA a wealth of valuable industry experience which has shaped her contributions to the organsiation. Our thanks for her invaluable support and we all wish her the very best for her next endeavours.